SONGWRITING
WORSHIP SONGS BEGIN IN THE HEART | Krissy Nordhoff
You may assume that worship songs are I always ask how they are doing. This one this statement, naming God his rock, fortress,
birthed in the very room in which they are question opens the heart’s doors. So many deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold,
written. The moments when the song structure things spill out. Struggles, joys, fears—all of it. If and more. David said His way is perfect and
takes shape. The emerging of a lyrical hook someone is going through marriage issues, we the word of the Lord is flawless (see v. 30 NIV).
into the atmosphere. The marriage of word and talk about it. If someone is dealing with unbelief, Sounds like love to me! He went on and on
melody. But when I dissect these songs, trace we remind that person of the promises. describing all the ways the Lord had worked in
their genealogy, I see that most of the time they
his life. He was worshipping from the overflow.
began way before then. Worship songs begin My friend Cheryl recently said at the beginning in the heart. of a writing session, “Guys, I can’t write a Sometimes when I’m writing, I’m overwhelmed
worship song today without telling you … even with love for the Lord too. Most writing days,
Sometimes we get the idea that writing worship though I’ve hardly told anyone yet … but I have I ask if we can start with worship. Ninety-nine
requires some sort of perfection of the heart. to be honest before we can write. I’m pregnant!” percent of the time, a worship song is birthed
Actually, that could not be further from the Real, raw life. I always make room for these from this free-flow worship time. Out of pure
truth. But worship does require honesty. The things before we worship or write. Sometimes I love. As with every aspect of worship, this love
most authentic worship songs originate in the will stop and pray right there. Why? Well, I love will run through the honesty filter; it has to be
intersection of honesty, love, discipline, and people, and I have the gift of mercy. But I also real.
sacrifice. know if we are not worshipping Him from an honest place, it’s not going to be true worship! DISCIPLINE
HONESTY Your honesty is a filter that worship runs Worship should be a well-worn path.
The hour is coming, and is now here, when the through. Never let this filter get stopped up. Darlene Zschech
and truth, for the Father is seeking such people LOVE It took me years to learn to appreciate the
to worship him. God is spirit, and those who I love you, LORD; you are my strength. beauty of discipline. But I have found that when
worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Psalm 18:1 NLT I take time with the Lord in the morning, I hear
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
Him much louder in my co-writing sessions.
John 4:23–24 ESV
Whenever I sit down to write with people,
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This song is a beautiful example of David The same voice that speaks to me when I’m
expressing true love. His heart overflowed after by myself speaks to me in the writing room. But
February 2020
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